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More voices on Ukraine crisis

Sat., March 8, 2014

Ukraine is a conundrum wrapped in a puzzle. Historically, its borders have been fluid; and the Crimea, and especially the Black Sea port of Sevastopol, were fought hard for against the German occupiers in 1943/44; and has been a issue of conflict between Ukraine and Russia since.

Stalin expelled the Crimean Tatars en masse to central Asia, and resettled it with Russians after World War II; and even after the Soviet Union dissolved; the Russian retained the Black Sea port for its navy. After an interim constitution, the current constitution was put into effect, changing the territory’s name to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, and gave Russia a lease on a military wharf and shore installations in the Crimean port Sevastopol until 2042.

Some might see this as a replay of Hitler’s aggression against Czechoslovakia with the pretense of protecting Germans in the Sudetenland. However, there will be no “Peace in our time” Neville Chamberlain today; and the world is much more intertwined economically than it was then. Russia, also, is no pre-war Germany; economically or militarily; and would surely face an economic debacle even greater than the one that defeated the U.S.S.R.

Yet, there is no way the Western Powers can intervene militarily; and economic pressure and sanctions is a two-edged sword; hurting the West as much as it will hurt Russia. The present “wolf-crying” is mostly political both in the West and the East; and rather overwrought.

The best solution would be a restoration of the Crimea as an independent/autonomous region, free to make its own deals with Russia or with Ukraine as it sees fit. We should also be careful not to take too righteous a stance in this affair; as we — the U.S. and Britain in particularly — are on thin ice here.

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While the first Iraq war was perhaps justified by Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait, the second Iraqi war has a much less moral defense. Iran is nowhere near the borders of the U.S. or Britain, and the major economic interest we had is largely oil.

So, let’s work on this diplomatically with minimal shouting and histrionics. Let Putin save face and secure his Black Sea interests and maybe; just maybe; he will pick up his toys and go home.

Sigmund Roseth, Mississauga

I am very sorry that Ukraine and Russia are not seeing eye to eye on things. However it is not a simple black and white issue.

I find it absolutely astonishing that the present governing party of Canada has such a poor grasp of historical facts. Have Stephen Harper and John Baird ever taken a history lesson? Their spin on history is a darn good reason to ensure that history should be one of the subjects that are mandatory in schools.

Ever since the era of Peter the Great of Russia a Russian focus has been to create a toe hold in Europe. The British and Russians fought a war over it. Anyone ever heard of the Crimean War?

I do not pretend to be an expert on all things Russia but over the years I have read a number of historical tomes as to Russian history and if the present Canadian government had taken even a few moments to Google Russian history they would sound a lot wiser than they presently do. I agree with the observation of a former ambassador that this present turmoil in Ukraine is more resembling of what happened in Czechoslovakia in the late 1960s vs. the concept of this being a re-enactment of German aggression circa 1939.

As to Stephen Harper’s comment that we have not seen a major power invading and occupying a neighbour under the pretext of protecting their nationals since the second war, does he not remember the U.S. under Ronald Regan invading Grenada back in the 1980s to protect Americans? Or the U.S. decision to invade a few of the Central American countries that were having internal wars that the Americans did not agree with?

Perhaps he has also never heard of the Falkland War in which Great Britain under Margaret Thatcher went to war with Argentina to protect British citizens? The French occupation of Algeria to protect French citizens? Again I suggest history become a must have subject in school so that one actually does and can make an informed argument as to how best to proceed forward.

I wish the people of Ukraine the best. However unless the West takes a moment and looks a little more closely at the complexity of these issues we will not resolve anything anytime soon.

Catherine Hetu, Merlin

The world may now be on the brink of war because of the invasion by Russia into the Ukraine. Some relate this to the beginning of Germany’s invasion before the World War II. However, even if this were true, we do not have the same situation because the resources we had more than 65 years ago no longer exist. Since then we have compromised our environment to the degree that we may never be able to recover from another extended conflict.

The further irony is that Europe and the world hesitate about confronting Russia because they fear the withholding of energy resources that fuels their economies. The decades of dire warnings about developing alternate energy to wean ourselves of non-renewable resources went on deaf ears as greed replaced common sense.

We could now have relied on alternate energy and an economy that provide for our real needs supplying the human resources to make a better life for all in a sustainable healthy ecosystem.

Rita Pollock, Coquitlam B.C.

In their March 5 columns, neither Thomas Walkom and Tim Harper seem to realize that the crisis engineered by Russian President Vladimir Putin will hurt Russia most. Contrary to what Tim Harper says, an isolated Russia would be the most unhappy land. Similarly, Thomas Walkom fails to realize that Putin may be behaving most hypocritically by ignoring Russia’s national interest, which he claims to be his main consideration.

Only Tanya Talaga touches the crux of the problem when she says: “While a chorus of voices has been urging Russian President Vladimir Putin to stand down in Crimea, the screaming sound of a sinking Russian economy just might have the most influence.”

Former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych’s decision, at the behest of Putin, to backpedal the plan for cooperation with the European Union triggered the whole crisis. In this context, it must be pointed out that Russia needs Europe as much as Ukraine. Germany is Russia’s second largest trading partner after China. Most of Russia’s gas and oil are exported to Germany by pipelines through Ukraine. So any sanction or interruption of supplies will have devastating impact on the Russian economy. Germany can get all its oil and gas from Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Nigeria and other oil and gas exporters.

If Russia invades Ukraine, all the Ukrainians have to do is to blow up the pipelines transporting oil and gas to Germany, depriving Russia any means to export its oil. As such, Russia will commit an economic suicide if it invades Ukraine. Napoleon famously remarked: “Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.” If Putin is bent on making mistakes, we may sit back and let him self-destruct. Sanctions can add to his misery.

There is another long-term reason for Russia to seek greater integration with the EU. Along Russia’s southeastern borders, industrial, economic, demographic might of China is posing a challenge to a diminished Russia. China is already the biggest trading partner of Russia which is now flooded with Chinese consumer products of all kinds in exchange for Russian oil, gas, coal, copper and other raw materials. It is a typical neo-colonial exchange in which a peripheral Russia is supplying raw materials to an industrial and metropolitan China which is providing it with value-added finished goods. Moreover, China needs Russia’s resources to run its industrial machine. But Russia, with the world’s largest landmass with a small population of barely 100 million to China’s 1.4 billion, simply doesn’t have the manpower needed to develop its vast near empty hinterland. So Russia will have to depend on China to provide manpower as well.

The fear of the Chinese annexation out of necessity is going to haunt Russia. China’s industrial, demographic and military clout will be too much for a poor and declining Russia to match. And if Russia remains absorbed in any confrontation with Europe in the west, it might find itself cut off by a mighty China in the east. It happened before. In the 14th century, a mighty Mongol army stormed Russia from the east, turning it into a weak vassal state.

Mahmood Elahi, Ottawa

I wonder if Stephen Harper’s momma ever warned him about being impetuous, by teaching him that “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread”? Not for the first time, he seems to have forgotten that important lesson with his handling of the events in Ukraine.

Remember as Leader of the Opposition he wrote that scorching Op-Ed piece in the Wall Street Journal decrying Prime Minister Jean Chretien’s refusal to join George W. Bush’s Coalition Of The Willing to find Saddam Hussein’s elusive WMDs. Thank goodness he wasn’t in charge of the Canadian Forces back then, seeing how the Iraq Attack turned out.

Stephen Harper was one of the first to urge the overthrow of the democratically elected leader in Ukraine, but did he pay enough attention to who makes up the new leadership?

Several of the key positions in the new Ukrainian government are held by the Svoboda Party, which has deep-rooted Neo-Nazi and anti-Semitic tendencies, and whose members protested in Kiev with “wolfsangel” armbands identical to those worn by the Waffen SS. Earlier this year, after that awful rendition of “Hey Jude”, Israel’s Prime Minister heralded him as the best friend of Israel, but chances are that Mr. Netanyahu is now wondering if Mr. Harper’s Momma ever warned him that “You are judged by the company that you keep”.

Bernie Smith, Parksville, B.C.

The money we are sending to the Ukraine should go to helping the people who are not in the streets rioting but have children and a family and who want this to end peacefully. We all know the government is not going to change anytime soon and there is no specific way to solve this problem without somebody getting hurt or feeling like it ended in an unjust way.

Anya Sarvanandan, Toronto

George Bush famously said before the Iraq invasion without getting UN’s approval, “America will never seek a permission slip to defend the security of our people.” U.S. has proved by its actions that it has no regard for the sovereignty of other countries and reserves the right to invade or occupy any country if it is in her “national interest.”

Now, it is laughable that — after occupying Afghanistan for over twelve years; after invading Iraq with out UN’s sanction and no imminent threat being posed by that country to either the US or to its any of neighbours; after years of drones-fired missiles and sending special forces launching operations into countries like Yemen, Pakistan and Somalia and killing scores of innocent men, women and children; after kidnapping and holding without charge or trial hundreds of foreigners accusing them of terrorism; after torturing thousands of captives in US and overseas prisons — the US is now accusing Russia of violating international law by sending troops into Crimea.

Does it mean that for Washington is above international law but rest of the world should follow it. Why Russia cannot invade its next door neighbour to protect its national interest if USA can invade and occupy countries more then ten thousand km away to safeguard its “national interest”.

Anis Zuberi, Mississauga

To suggest Mr. Obama is weak because he not aggressively bullying Mr. Putin is archaic thinking. Was it the Bay of Pigs, when Kennedy and Kruschchov played with our lives during their war of words, which could have easily escalated to huge human devastation.

Only 50 something years later, we still argue pretty much about the same things.

But, waging war that would cause huge human loss is not even on the table.

We seemed to have evolved as a species so much , that the only thing that is being discussed that will eventually solve this boondoggle is economic sanctions

We are watching the two most militarily powerful countries on the planet decide not to blow each other to smithereens and instead play a little economic chess.

To me hints that we as a species on this amazing planet are probably going to make it.

Yes, we have finally come to the conclusion that we are too interdependent on each other.

As much as we are different in race , religion, culture and language.

Our one common ground is the economics of this planet and the management of its fruits.

Then again I could be way off base, because it’s early yet ......

Casimir Galas, Toronto

The hypocrisy and sensationalism emanating from US leaders and the media over the Ukraine crisis is nauseating to listen to.

Russia showed the world during the Sochi Olympic Winter Games that there is indeed a new Russia. It may not be the ideal blueprint country the West demands, but it is clearly not an imperialistic monster now being portrayed by our leaders and media.

Senator John “I want World War III” McCain and Russophobic fossils from the Cold War era Madeline Albright and Zbigniew Brzezinski are not who the media should be showcasing in this crisis. In fact, McCain should be explaining why he had recently appeared with Ukraine Neo-Nazi Svoboda Party leader Oleh Tyahnybok.

President Barack Obama says the Russian troops in Crimea are in violation of international law. Obama should first be clarifying the leaked phone conversation, widely available on the Internet, between Asst US Secretary of State for Europe, Victoria Nuland, and the US ambassador to Ukraine, Geoffrey Pyatt, that shows evidence they may have influenced the recent coup d’etat of Ukraine’s president. Besides a flagrant violation of international law, this leaked tape is an international disgrace for the United States.

Secretary of State John Kerry says Russia has made an “incredible act of aggression” against a sovereign country, even though Russia appears to be securing one of it’s most important naval bases, after the democratically elected president of Ukraine (elected even with international observers) had been driven from his office by an organized armed mob. Legions of double standards are conveniently being overlooked. For example, have Obama and Kerry forgotten about US led attacks on the sovereign countries of Iraq, Libya, Serbia and Afghanistan? And what about the US attacks on Panama, Grenada, Laos, and even the infamous Bay of Pigs in Cuba? Do Obama and Kerry have amnesia over the relentless drone missile strikes in Yemen, Pakistan and Somalia? We are told by the media that Russia might “shockingly” annex Crimea from Ukraine. Yet, it was the United States that led the way to illegally separate Kosovo from Serbia and then even build a massive US military base called Camp Bondsteel there. Exactly what book of international law does the United States government adhere to?

Kerry also had recently told the president of Ukraine to show “restraint” during the horrific protests in Kiev, despite the protesters throwing fire bombs, building barricades, setting buildings alight, and shooting and killing policemen. But, here in the so-called “land of the free,” some 400 Keystone Pipeline peaceful protesters were quickly arrested and carted away for the criminally aggressive act of “blocking the sidewalk or strapping themselves to the fence” outside of the White House on March 2.

Political pundits are saying Russia needs to be “isolated.” Are they kidding? How do you isolate the largest country in the world that stretches across 9 times zones and is an integral part of the world economy? The West needs to reset it’s Russophobic Cold War mentality and join the 21st century reality that includes Russia as a partner and not as a despised “evil doer.”

Dr. John Meinhold, U.S. Air Force veteran, Portsmouth, N.H.

Don't poke Russian bear in the Ukraine, Letter March 3

I strongly disagree with Michael Pravica. The Russian bear should not be in the Ukraine at all. This is a nation that has been fighting for so long, to keep its language, heritage and religion in the face of having its intelligentsia jailed, a genocide perpetrated by Stalin that starved at least 7 million Ukrainians to death and countless other injuries to its people.

Mr. Pravica talks of mob rule/violence in the Ukraine. It was the police under orders from President Yanukovich, who killed unarmed Ukrainians. They were protesting because the president had reneged on a promise to negotiate Ukraine being part of the EU. He also stole billions for his family while ordinary Ukainians struggle to make a living.

Ukrainians want a democratic, uncorrupt government, they want alignment with the EU and not with the Russians who have bullied and suppressed them for hundreds of years.

I am not advocating for a World War III, but can one stay silent when people are enslaved? And this in a country that was granted its autonomy legally. One cannot stay silent when every fibre of one’s being knows that a thing is wrong.

Would Mr. Pravica have told Ghandi or Martin Luther King Jr. or Mandela to be quiet and not disturb the status quo? The Ukrainians have had enough and they need all the support freedom-loving countries can give them and if that means a cold shoulder to the likes of Putin, then bring it on.

All of us need to speak up for human rights or we shouldn’t be surprised to see them disappear, not just for ‘those people over there’ but for everyone.

Roxanne MacKenzie, Demorestville

I am writing in response to the letter form Micheal Pravica “Don’t poke Russian bear in the Ukraine”.

I would like to point out that since 1700’s Russia is not a peaceful country and is pursuing the policy of building the empire at the cost of neighbouring countries whenever it can. It is also worth noting that Russians time and time again prefer to follow the rule of the strong man- leader instead of toiling hard at building the democracy.

Accusations that USA and/or EU destabilized Ukraine are ludicrous. Large portion of Ukrainian society would like to belong to EU. They look at other Eastern European countries benefiting from it already. EU was not in a hurry to accept another poor and rather backward country with totally ruined economy by plundering done by the ruling cliques. Russia is spoiling to show the world who is the boss in this region. Russians are longing to be respected and feared once again. Russians efforts to dazzle the world failed miserably and they are smarting from it. They believe that they have a right to invade independent country to protect Russian minority. The latest UN report on the treatment of minorities in Russia highlights the appalling treatment they receive there. It is clear and sad that Russians think themselves better then other people living in the region.

It is easy to shrug it off if one lives far from Russia, quiet different proposition when one has to live under the threat of invasion of the greedy and ruthless neighbour. If it would not be for NATO, all Baltic states would have no chance at independence. Russia would be free to plunder and get even stronger.

Russia is not a democratic country and is not capable to contribute to world’s peace and justice. It never had! Just check this country history.

The years of Stalin - Hitler co-operation in plundering and occupying Eastern Europe is not forgotten by many.

Beata Essmaili-Shad, Mississauga

Somehow the Western democratic leaders did not heed the words of Poland foreign minister when he helped brokered the temporal peace between the warring factions in Ukraine.

Obama drew a red line for Syria; Syria crossed the red line; Putin came through with Syria cooperating to deliver its stockpile of chemical weapons for destruction.

Harper/Baird/Alexander threatened Putin with injunctions if Putin decided to use force to intimidate Ukraine democratic forces; Baird then withdrew with a statement that there would be no military intervention in Ukraine; the West never somehow learned its lessons as it failed to intervene during Hungary and Poland. Harper/Baird/Alexander’s threat of injunction now rings hollow.

Will Obama/Kerry/Rice use UN Security Council to bring sanctions against Russia? Russia is a vetoing member of the UN Security Council.

Obama/Cameron/Harper snubbed Putin during the Sochi Winter Olympics. They’ve missed that vital opportunity to build bridges with Putin; the Western media unleashed untold forecast of impending terrorist attacks; Putin kept the Olympics safe all through the two weeks in February. Who got mud in their faces now?

Do not threaten Putin with hollow sanctions and injunctions that the Western democratic leaders can not implement. It is more prudent to keep all avenues of communication and dialogue opened. It is better to continue talking rather than pointing fingers at Putin.

We shall see how the western stock market will fare over the next few months if this impasse keeps up. After a slow and sluggish recovery from the 2008/2009 financial crisis, the West can not afford to loose any momentum here because Obama/Cameron/Harper think they can squeeze Putin.

Putin is quite revered by Russian youths as he has brought back some Russian pride to them; Do we see Canadian youth look up to Harper for anything? Do we see American youth look up to Obama for anything? Putin will not turn the other cheek for Obama/Cameron/Harper to slap.

Dan Ungshang, Markham

The threat by Prime Minister Harper and other G7 leaders to kick Russia out if this group may well fall on deaf Putin ears. Putin has now issued an ultimatum for Ukrainian troops in Crimea to stand down or face an assault. From the start of Putin putting in his puppet leader of Ukraine, this has been a carefully orchestrated plan for Putin to take back part of the Ukraine, essential for his navy. He is not averse to invading neighbours as we saw him do in Georgia.

Sadly, having already outmanoeuvred President Obama in blocking putting a missile defence system in Europe, then in Egypt and Syria, Putin has little to fear from American intervention. This is an ever dangerous situation with the West limited to sanctions, which Putin may well ignore as he obviously wants to come away with the Crimea, maybe even more territory than he started out with.

Larry Comeau, Ottawa

Victor Yanukovych was democratically elected president of Ukraine in 2010. There was a recent coup by Ukrainian opposition groups in Ukraine. Just prior to the coup, foreign ministers, including Canada’s John Baird, went to Kiev Independence Square to tell opposition groups protesting there that the West would support them in their overthrew of the democratically elected government.

The reason the West supported the coup is because Yanukovych chose not to enter into an EU Association Agreement. The Yanukovych government instead looked to Russia for economic assistance rather than to the West.

The West saw this as their influence over Ukraine waning, so chose to support the overthrow of Yanukovych’s government. Now the West has the gall to tell Russia to back off.

President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, has virtually no respect on the world stage; however, Putin is in his right to support the democratically elected leader of Ukraine, Victor Yanukovych, give him protection, reinstate him as Ukraine’s legitimate president, as well as protect Russia’s vital interest in that region of the world, including the Crimea.

Paul Connolly, Victoria, B.C.

I simply can’t understand how the situation in Ukraine has escalated? Didn’t our Foreign Affairs Minister go over there Friday to clean this whole mess up? I mean if all the Harper government can do is posture and make squeaking noises from the side, wouldn’t make more sense for it to simply commit to supporting the world powers (U.S., Great Britain, Germany and France, etc.) that actually have the military and economic clout to make a difference – and then get the hell out of the way until called upon for help?

Apart from his G8 (or G7) vote, Harper and his re-election campaign are not significant factors in the Ukraine conflict.

Randy Gostlin, Oshawa

So let’s see, Justin Trudeau gets dumped on for saying that Russia will probably invade Ukraine because they were eliminated in hockey at the Olympics. Guess what? Russia lost in hockey and Russia invaded Crimea in Ukraine. And he was criticized for this? For stating the obvious?

Fred Krawczyk, Toronto

The Russian invasion of the Ukraine is just one more nail in the coffin of an American administration that will likely go down in history as the most naive and incompetent one ever. The predictable Russian action is in part the fruit of Obama’s “reset of relations with Russia”. It is interesting to note that Sarah Palin’s prediction that this could happen if the US followed Obama’s stated foreign policy plans was ridiculed after she raised it at the Republican National Convention in 2008. Obama’s speech in Cairo early in his administration also promised a renewed relationship with the Arab world and the middle east. On that front he has managed to alienate Egypt, a long time US ally, Syria is in turmoil and moving closer to Russia and his attempt to mollify the intractable leaders of Iran is rapidly showing signs of failure as well. On the domestic front the disastrous roll-out of Obamacare is one example of numerous domestic endeavors that are driven by perhaps meritorious social objectives that unfortunately ignore economic reality. History has shown that such approaches which may achieve some results in the short term are doomed to failure in the long run. Based on this track record it is astonishing and worrisome that his level of support remains as high as it is.

If the US continues on this path beyond the next election I might yet get my children and grandchildren to move back to Canada.

George Adler, Toronto

For what it’s worth, here’s how I see the situation in the Ukraine.

Right off the bat, one worries whether or not there will be a repeat of Hungary in 1956 or of Czechoslovakia is 68? It’s been a while since the Russian’s have flexed their muscles in this area of the world, but they clearly still have a formidable military. Ukrainians still remember the forced starvation of the 30s under Stalin when millions died.

The Russian’s will likely not be as overt as they were with either Hungary or Czechoslovakia. They will probably work through the support they have in the eastern section of Ukraine and the Crimean Peninsula.

Because of their infighting, Ukrainians have made it easier for Putin to have his way with the Ukraine. If the Ukrainians united against a “common enemy,” they likely could not stand up to Russia anyway.

I don’t believe the EU or the U.S. has much political power or will to resist Russia, at least not in this situation. They didn’t in Georgia.

Geopolitically, this is still Russia’s sphere of influence, where they can do pretty well much as they please.

This action will be shot across the bow for all other countries in the region. Look for Russia to soon have them all back into one fold again, maybe not exactly like the former Soviet Union, but similar. Then look for that Russian-controlled union to rise to world super power status, again. Then, look for the cold war, which really never went away, to be more obvious.

Robert Hall, Saskatoon

In view of the past weeks of bloodshed in Ukraine why can’t the leader of Canada, the U.S. and Europe get together with Ukraine’s interim leader and sign an agreement to put Ukraine in the United Nations in order to protect her from further bloodshed, invasion and chaos.

She has suffered enough at the hands of communist leaders, (the famine of 1932-33, ending in the death of about 6 million Ukrainians, the Gulag slave labour camps, Chernobyl disaster, soviet collectivization of farms, etc.). When is enough enough.

Laureen Andreacchi, Markham

Harper’s latest example of poor political judgment demands response.

It was foolish and petty for Harper to exclude Mr. Trudeau and Mr. Mulcair from his trip to Ukraine. In fact, he should have also included Chrystia Freeland, who is of Ukrainian descent.

Harper’s sense of diplomacy or magnanimity is often sadly lacking. His desire for control and power seems to inspire him to be more spiteful and small-minded as the years pass.

His behaviour is egocentric and dismissive....not desirable in anyone, but particularly in a Prime Minister.

I am both angered and disheartened by his recurring malicious treatment of those with whom he disagrees.

Cam Finley, Lindsay

If the power lies in the hands of the protesters, what is the place of the Ukrainian constitution in this dispute? This is not to question the legitimacy of the Ukrainians’ struggle for modernity or defending the fallen and corrupt regime. It is about Ukraine’s relationship with its constitution.

The problem with struggling democracies like Ukraine is the arbitrariness of the peoples’ actions. Whenever there is a serious political dispute, rather than bolstering its constitution-by sticking to it-they sidestep it.

Until Ukraine hasn’t developed a culture of respecting its own democracy and constitution-albeit a shaky one-its struggle for democracy and modernity has a long way to go before achieving success.

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